Preliminary estimates show the total production of grapes for the 2005 harvest matched last year's record at 2.0 million tonnes. Although the largest producing state, South Australia, recorded a slight decrease in production (down 2% to 865,000 tonnes), this was offset by the next largest producing states recording slight increases. Victorian production increased by 1% to 538,000 tonnes and New South Wales production increased by 4% to 504,000 tonnes.

The total area of vines reported increased by 2% to a record 168,000 hectares in the 2005 season. This compares with the 2004 estimate of 164,000 hectares. Increases were reported in all the major growing states.

GRAPES(a), Production

Australia

2005p

2003

2004

2005p

NSW

Vic.

Qld

SA

WA

Tas.

NT

ACT

AREA OF VINES AT HARVEST (ha)

Bearing

142,793

150,561

153,819

36,294

35,458

2,262

66,908

11,537

1,043

222

96

Not yet bearing: planted or grafted prior to collection year

8,412

7,800

7,834

2,466

2,234

160

2,354

475

94

51

-

Not yet bearing: planted or grafted during collection year

6,288

5,819

5,946

1,455

1,459

93

2,098

775

64

-

1

Total area of vines

157,492

164,181

167,599

40,216

39,151

2,516

71,360

12,786

1,201

273

97

GRAPE PRODUCTION (fresh weight) (t)

Total production

1,496,939

2,014,965

2,009,774

503,846

537,783

11,218

864,995

83,485

6,478

1,300

667

Yield (t/ha)(b)

10.5

13.4

13.1

13.9

15.2

5.0

12.9

7.2

6.2

5.9

6.9

p preliminary data- nil or rounded to zero (including null cells)

(a) Where figures have been rounded, discrepancies may occur between sums of the component items and totals. Varietal information will be available in Australian Wine and Grape Industry (cat. no. 1329.0) due for release in January 2006. (b) Yield represents the quantity of grapes produced per hectare of bearing vines.